The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-23

quite helpless. 1 daren't leave it at the bedside at nighttime even. am obliged to put a string to it and tie it round my neck while I am asleep, or very likely, shouldn't be able to find it in the morning"
 "But I cannot understand your wife taking such precautions to keep you at home, since you agree so badly. l should have thought she would have been glad to get rid of you some- times"
 "Well, to tell you the truth, sir, it is all owing to her unreasonable jeal- ousy. But it is my own fault. There is nobody to blame for it but myself. It all comes of marrying a woman old enough to be my grandmother al- most"
 The person alluded to fired up at this. "Aye! it all comes of that ,'' she shricked out, clasping her knuckly hands. "But don't be coward as well as sneak. Tell 'em all the story now you are about it. Tell 'em how you courted the old one by mistake for the young one, and how you kept up the swindle after your eyes were opened, so that you might finger the old woman's money. Unreasonable jealousy, you shabby vagabondl Tell 'em how the young one is to this day waiting for the old woman's shoes, which she means to wear to go to church with you! Tell the people, while you are about it, you hypocrite, double-dyed, how"
 By this time, however, an official, who had been making his way toward her, laid firm hand on the old wom- ans shoulder, and led her out of the court. Here was domestic drama of a somewhat serio-comic cast, maybe, but, nevertheless, one the particulars of which might be worth inquiry into if they were easily obtainable. Who was the "young one" the wood- en-legged man had courted by mis- take for the old one, and how far had the matter progressed when the eyes of the former were opened? Which, after all, was the worst taken in-the old one, the young one, or the wood n-legged man? I had nothing very particular to engage me for an hour or two. At all events, was prepared to devote little time to anything of interest that might happen to turn up at police court.
 My first thought was to endeavor to obtain the required information from the old woman, but as soon as she had been escorted to the outer door she went her way with rapid stride, as though intent on getting home before the tailor, and preparing q warm reception for him. The man himself was as peremptorily escorted, but by another entry. But he did not go the way his wife went. When he got out into Marlborough street he looked cautiously about him, and then begged away at a smart pace toward Oxford street, where he took an omni- bus that was proceeding westward. For the moment there seemed nothing for it but to abandon my purpose, but then It occurred to me that the tail OTIS object in going for ride might merely be in order to make the best use of the oft-time impounded leg by taking a journey of mile or two-as far as the park perhaps-there to mediate unmolested on his wrongs.
 It chanced that young gentleman of the legal profession was my com- panion, and few words sufficed to persuade him to undertake q delicate commission. Assuming my surmise as to the one-legged tailor's intention, or something like it, to be accurate. my young friend was to ride in the same vehicle, alight when the other alighted, keep him in sight till prom ising opportunity presented, and then by an effort of ingenuity get into a conversation with him that would lead up to the subject heavy on his mind, and bring me the result. He acquitted himself satisfactorily. I was mistaken, however, as to the tailor going journey of some length. His taking omnibus was merely ruse to deceive the old lady had she been watching him. The persecuted hus- band rode no further than Marylebone lane, and then proceeded to a quiet public house, which, probably, was his customary haven of refuge when much hunted and harassed. Making his way to the parlor he ordered a pint of ale and tobacco, and retired with both to secluded corner. The waiter who attended on him at the same time took my young friends order for some mild refreshment. "I beg your pardon, sir" he after awhile remarked to the man with the wooden leg, "is your name Jenkinson?"
 "It is not, sir"
 "Thank you. Excuse me asking you the question. A client, quite a stranger to me, has appointed to meet me here, and I thought perhaps you might be he." The bait was immedi- ately effective.